Spain assumes command of NATO’S Standing Maritime Group 1

• Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo takes over as Commander of the Maritime Group for the next six months.

Spanish Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo took over the command of the SNMG-1 from German Rear Admiral Thorsten Max in a ceremony that took place in the NATO Hall of the German maritime base in Wilhelmshaven. The ceremony was presided over by MARCOM's Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Delgado Roig. Thus, the frigate 'Almirante Juan de Borbón' takes over from the German frigate 'Hessen' as command ship.

During the next six months, Rear Admiral Ruiz Escagedo will command NATO's standing Maritime Group number 1 (TG 441.01) aboard the frigate 'Almirante Juan de Borbón'. On this occasion, the command group will be composed mostly of Spanish military personnel as well as personnel from allied countries such as Germany, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Currently participating in the Operation, called 'Brilliant Shield' of SNMG-1, is the Very High Readiness Joint Force (VJTF), which includes the frigate 'Almirante Juan de Borbón', the combat supply ship 'Cantabria', the German FGS 'Bonn' and the Italian frigate ITS 'Rizzo'.

This grouping will participate in the 'Stead Fast Defender' maneuvers, the largest NATO drill scheduled for three years. These operations, in the waters of the North Sea, are aimed at deterrence, collective defense, naval presence and increasing interoperability between navies.

This deployment strengthens the commitment that Spain and the Armed Forces have with NATO, providing maritime presence and increasing interoperability between countries of the coalition.

Thus, between the crews of the Spanish ships, the Embarked Air Unit of the 10th Aircraft Squadron, an Operational Security Team of Marines and commissioned personnel, including a doctor and an aircraft controller at sea, the Spanish Armed Forces are contributing more than 400 troops to the Alliance.